Des Yaninen | Tisa Bank SME Business Breakfast | Unresolved Challenges, Call for Decisive Action

The 7th Annual Tisa Bank SME Business Breakfast is a flagship event in Papua New Guinea that commemorates Global Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Day on June 27th. Sponsored by Tisa Bank Ltd, the breakfast serves as a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and financial institutions to engage in dialogue, share insights, and explore solutions to accelerate SME growth. Now in its third consecutive year under Tisa Bank’s banner, the event reflects the bank’s deep commitment to inclusive economic development and values-driven banking. The breakfast features keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking opportunities aimed at: Promoting financial inclusion Showcasing SME success stories Identifying policy gaps and market challenges Fostering collaboration between government and private sector At the forefront of advocacy is Des Yaninen, President of the MSME Council of Papua New Guinea and CEO of Pacifund. A passionate champion for small business development, Yaninen uses the breakfast as a strategic moment to call for decisive action on unresolved challenges facing SMEs — including access to finance, inflation pressures, and regulatory bottlenecks. His leadership emphasizes the need for stronger support systems, smarter policy interventions, and a mindset shift among entrepreneurs to unlock the full potential of PNG’s SME sector.